Patent/Product Search & Selection Analysis Team Up (Phill – Mark – Josh – Chris – Ed) June 4, 2008

Review of Concept Designs Telescoping tube rails Cable lift platform Wheeled cart (detachable) Conveyor belt Scissor lift

The Attic Lift Perspective View – Lowered PositionPerspective View – Raised Position Application number: 11/238,415; Publication number: US 2007/ A1; Filing date: Sep 29, 2005; Inventor: Jason Hartley;

The Attic Lift Upper level frame and winch raise and lower a platform by winding and unwinding cables No support or guidance structure in lower level Pros: o Many sizes (200 lbs – 750 lbs) o Durability (so they claim) Cons: o Must have stairs, not an elevator for people o Objects can fall off

The SpaceLift 6000 By SpaceLift Products, Inc. Patented: Nov. 8, No. 6,962,236 by Jay Penn

The SpaceLift 6000 Specialized staircase, mounting frame, and trolley attached to a winch via 4 cables. Trolley and mounting frame roll to side once at top to allow access. Pros: Level platform at chest height for loading Load management system detects interference Cons: 4 Cables complicates lifting process Single size compatibility

Combination Loft and Ladder Lift (patent pending) Inv. Daniel Harry Corby Quare Filing Date: Nov. 29, 2006 Application #: 11/564,534 Publication: US 2007/

Combination Loft and Ladder Lift Uses a custom ladder with a carriage and crane system to move packages up attic stairs. Crane Actuates to move said package when carriage reaches top of the attic stairs. Pros: Solution to handling the object when reaches the top. Allows for unobstructed use of stairs by people. Load management system detects interference Cons: Requires vertical room for installation. Does not provide any package control and item may fall off platform. Obstructs the landing area for humans as they climb the ladder

Overhead Platform Elevation Device Inventor: Douglas J. Hughes Patent number: 5,667,035 Filing date: Oct 19, 1995 Issue date: Sep 16, 1997

Overhead Platform Elevation Device Assembly is positioned in its own ceiling cutout, separate from attic stairs Device consists of platform raised and lowered by cables within telescopic support structures Cables are wound on opposed pulleys, and driven by a motor to power the vertical displacement Pros: o Maintains orientation of object o Does not block or interfere with ladder o Self Storing Cons: o Requires second cutout in attic o Cannot be retrofit

Overhead Platform Elevation Device Inventor: Randy Sprague Patent number: 5,626,208 Filing date: July 13, 1995 Issue date: May 6, 1997

Screw Lift Device Again, assembly is positioned in its own ceiling cutout, separate from attic stairs Device consists of platform raised and lowered by screw within permanent rail structure Motor drives the screw to raise and lower the platform Pros: o Maintains orientation of object o Does not block or interfere with ladder o small vertical foot print o simple design Cons: o Permanent, or if not requires a lot of space o high cost

Selection Analysis

1. Wheeled Cart (relative score = 1.00) - Simple, effective design and easy to use 2. Cable lift (relative score = 0.98) - Very capable, but more complicated 3. Conveyor belt (relative score = 0.95) 4. Product: Spacelift 6000 (relative score = 0.91) 5. Telescoping rails (relative score = 0.87) 6. Patent pending: Combo lift and ladder (relative score = 0.83) 7. Scissor lift (relative score = 0.68) - Less reliable and complex structure

Final choice: Wheeled Cart Future Design Considerations: Number of cables Detachable connection Motor size Wheel size and orientation Next Meeting: Design prop Mid-term presentation